Ski storage rack

ABSTRACT

A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright position and including at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member to which an intermediate divider element is integrally joined, end members being joined to the front member and extending in parallel, spaced relation with respect to the divider element to define separated adjacent spaces for receiving a pair of skis therein, a second bracket similar in construction to the first bracket and being located below said first bracket in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, a shelf being formed integral with the front member of the lowermost bracket for receiving the butt end of the skis thereon, wherein the skis are stored in an elevated upright position.

United States Patent [191 Laterra [4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 SKI STORAGE RACK [75] Inventor: Salvatore Laterra, Providence, R.l.

[73] Assignee: Norman Hines, South Attleboro,

Mass. a part interest 22 Filed: Dec. 17, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 425,679

[52] US. Cl. 211/60 SK [5]] Int. Cl. E05B 73/00 [58] Field of Search 24/81 SK, 73 56; 70/58;

211/60 SK, 60 A, 60 T, 67, 68, 63 (US. only), 7, 60 R, 184; 248/376, 68 R, 37.3, 201, 300, 309; 280/1137 K, 11.37 A; 224/421 F, 42.03 R, 42.03 A, 29R;

3/1974 Grossman 211/60 SK X Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerRobert W. Gibson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalter & Michaelson 57 ABSTRACT A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright position and including at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member to which an intermediate divider element is integrally joined, end members being joined to the front member and extending in parallel, spaced relation with respect to the divider element to define separated adjacent spaces for receiving a pair of skis therein, a second bracket similar in construction to the first bracket and being located below said first bracket in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, a shelf being formed integral with the front member of the lowermost bracket for receiving the butt end of the skis thereon, wherein the skis are stored in an elevated upright position.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures sKI STORAGE RACK The present invention relates toa ski storage. rack for storing skis in an upright position. i I

Skis are usually stored in an upright position, but it is the common practice to merely lean them against a vertical surface without any guard therefor, and thus skis placed in such a position are subject to falling against each other or on thefloor or ground and are thus subject to chipping oreve'n warping; and when a number of skis are placed in such a position, they tend to become tangled and disarrayed and are difficult to separate. Temporary storing of skis after skiing is usually accomplished also by merely placing the skis against a vertical surface-or by inserting the butt end of the skis into soft snow.

It is desirable to store -skis in a vertical upright position, but in such a position that they may be readily accessible without resorting to complicated lockin'gor pivoting elements for securing the skis in place. Prior to the instant invention some efforts have been made to provide devices for storing skis in a vertical upright position, but such devices usually have been complicated in structure, and as a result have been relatively expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a simple and inexpensive ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright front member, end members being joined to the front member at an end thereof and extending rearwardly at right angles thereto, the rearmost portion of the end members being attachable to 'a vertical surface for mounting the bracket thereon. The intermediate divider element is joinedto the front member and extends rearwardly thereof at right angles thereto, the di-' vider element cooperating with the front and end members to define separated adjacent spaces, in each of which a ski is receivable for being tially upright position. i

A second bracket is normally utilized with the first bracket and is located below the first bracket in vertically aligned spaced relation, the second bracket being formed substantially similar to the first bracket, so that the skis will be placed in the spaces of the'vertically aligned brackets for location in the 'vertical position thereof. In order to elevate the butt endof the skis from the ground or a horizontal surface, the lowermost of the brackets may be formed with a shelf that is joined to and extends outwardly from the front member thereof, the butt endof the skis engaging the shelf and thus being elevated with respect to the ground or hori zontal surface. j I

A plurality of brackets may be located in interconnected end-to-end relation; and for this purpose, .the

connecting brackets are formed similarly to the main 3 stored in a substan- Another objectof the invention is to provide a relatively simple ski retaining bracket that is formed .in a unitary construction and that includes a divider element that is formed as an integral part thereof, the divider element being bent from a from member of the bracket atright angles thereto to define spaces for re,- ceiving skis therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack assembly for storing skis, whereby vertically. spaced brackets are fixed to a vertical surface and are located in vertically aligned relation, each of the brackets including a front member to which a-divider ,element is joined that is located at right angles ,thereto to define spaces therewith, the .spaces in the vertically aligned brackets receiving the skis therein for storing the skis in the vertical position thereof.

Still anotherobject is to provide a ski storage rackwhich includes a bracket having a front member and a shelf attached thereto, the shelf being elevated from a horizontal surface,,wherein the skis are locatable on the shelf for removing thebutt ends of theskis from the horizontal surface.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski storage rack embodied in the present invention illustrating a main and supplementary bracket located in the assembled position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ied in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a supplementary .bracket that is attachable to the main bracket for forming the assembled construction illustrated in FIG.v 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view with parts shown in plan view illustrating the interconnecting elements for the main and supplementary brackets;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the main bracket as embodied in the present invention; and 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing bracket assemblies as mounted ona vertical surface, and further showing the. location of two pairs of skis thereon as mounted in different storage positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION main bracket embodat 14. As will be described, the main bracket 12 and the bracket and include a divider elemerit that defines spaces for receiving the skis therein. Interconnecting elements are formed on adjacent brackets for connecting the brackets in end-to-end abutting relation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ski rack forstoring skis in a substantially upright position.

supplementary bracket 14 are attachable to each other and are mountable on a vertical surface for storing skis in a vertical position. As will be further described, additional supplementary brackets similar to bracket 14 grally joined andare bent at right angles with respect thereto. Joined to the end member 18 'is a foot portion 22, while a foot portion 24 is joined to the end member 20, the foot portions 22 and 24 being bent at right angles to the end members 18 and 20, respectively, and having openings 25 and 27, respectively, formed therein for accommodating a nail or screw or the like when the main bracket 12 is mounted on a vertical surface. Y

Inorder to-dividethe space between the'end members l8 and 20 are accommodating skis therein, a portion of the front memberl6 is cut out to form a divider element 26, the divider element 26 being bent rearwardly of the front member 16 at right angles thereto as illustrated in FIG. 2, to divide the space between the end members 18 and 20 into spaces 28 and 30. The lateral dimension of each of the spaces 28 and 30 is somewhat larger than the width of the conventional ski so that a ski can be accommodated in each space when the skis are to be stored in the vertical position thereof.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, a forwardly extending shelf portion 32 is joined to the front member 16 and includes a marginal flange 34 that cooperates with the front member 16 to define a longitudinally extending channel therebetweem. As will be described, the butt end of each ski is receivable on the shelf portion 32 for loacting the skis in elevated position during the storage thereof; but it is understood that in use of the main bracket 12 in this manner, the main bracket is located adjacent to the lower end of the skis, as will be described hereinafter.

In use of the main bracket 12, only a pair of skis can be accommodated therein; and if only the main bracket is employed as the ski storage rack, a second main bracket is also utilized therewith and is located in spaced vertical relation with respect thereto. The main bracket 12 is spaced in vertical relation in accordance with the length of the skis and to insure that the skis are securely retained in the vertical position thereof. The use of the main bracket 12 in the storage position will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6; although, in this connection the supplementary bracket 14 is utilized therewith; and, therefore, reference to the supplementary bracket 14 in cooperation with the main bracket 12 will also be described in the storing of the skis in a vertical position.

The supplementary bracket 14 is formed substantially similar to the main bracket 12, and includes a forward or front member 33 to which an end member 35 is joined, the end member 35 having a foot portion 36 bent at right angles thereto in which an opening 38 is formed for accommodating a nail, screw or the like. A divider element 40 is bent rearwardly of the front member 33 as illustrated. The supplementary bracket 14 as shown is substantially similar to the main bracket 12 except that an end member opposite to end wall 35 is omitted, the end member 20 of the main bracket 12 cooperating with the supplementary bracket to form the end member thereof, when the supplementary bracket 14 is joined to the main'bracket 12 in end-to-end relation.

In order to interconnect the brackets, a slot 42 is formed in the end member 20 of the main bracket adjacent to the front member 16. An outwardly extending finger 44 is formed on the front member 33 of the supplementary bracket 14 and is dimensioned to be received within the slot 42. Since the other elements of the supplementary bracket 14 correspond in size and shape to those of the main bracket 12, when the finger 44 is received within the slot 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the brackets are interconnected and may be mounted in this position on a vertical surface. The end member 20 of the main bracket 12 then cooperates with the divider element 40 to form a space 46 for accommodating a ski therein, while the divider element 40 cooperates with the end member 35 to define a space 49 for accommodating a ski therein. An outwardly extending shelf portion 50 is also joined to the front member 33 of the supplementary bracket 14 and abuts the shelf portion 32 when the brackets 12 and 14 are interconnected and mounted on a vertical surface, as illustrated in FIGS.'1 and 6.

It is understood that a series of supplementary brackets 14 may be interconnected to each other in aligned and abutting relation depending upon the number of skis that are to be stored. In this connection, each end member 35 of the supplementary bracket 14 cooperates with a divider element of the next adjacent bracket to form a space for accommodating a ski therein. Further, each supplementary bracket is formed with a slot 51 that receives a finger 44 of the adjacent bracket.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an upper bracket assembly 10 is illustrated in that position asmounted on a vertical surface indicated as a wall 52. The bracket assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 6 includes the main bracket 12 and the supplementary bracket 14 that are interconnected together and are mounted on the vertical surface or wall 52 by means of bolts orscrews that extend through the openings as formed in the foot portions of their respective end members. In this position, the

upper portion of skis indicated'at 54 are received in the spaces 28, 30 and 46, 48 that are defined bynthe'end members and divider elements of the-brackets.

As mentioned hereinabove, a secondary bracket as? sembly is usually required for use with the bracket assembly 10 that accommodates the uppermost endsv of the skis 54; and as shown in FIG. 6', a secondary bracket assembly indicated at 10a is mounted on, the wall 52 adjacent to the lower end thereof, but elevated above a horizontal surface or floor indicated at 56. The lower bracket assembly 10a is located such thatv the spaces as defined between the members and divider elements thereof are in vertically aligned relation with respect to the corresponding spaces in the upper bracket assembly 10. With the bracket'assemblies 10 and 10a positioned as indicated, the skis 54 may be mounted in a storage position in vertical location.

On occasion it is desirabletdelevate the butt end of the skis 54 so that they do not rest on the ground or floor 56. For this purpose, the shelf portions 32 and 50 of the brackets 12 and 14 are provided and are usable primarily in the lower bracket assembly 10a. Referring again to FIG. 6, the pair of skis 54 that are mounted in the main bracket 12 of the bracket assembly 10a are located such that the butt ends of the skis are resting on the shelf 32. This elevates the butt'endsof the skis 54 above the surface 56, the uppermost ends of the skis 54 extending through the spaces 28 and 30 for securing the skis in the vertical'stor'age position thereof. For purposes of illustration, and as shown in FIG. 6, skis 58 that are mounted in the supplementary brackets 14 of the bracket assemblies 10 and 10a are positioned such that the butt ends ofthe skis extend to the floor 56. In this connection, the skis 58 project through the spaces 46 and 48 and behind the front wall 33 of the supplementary bracket 14. Obviously,

surface 56.

It is seen that the bracket assemblies and 10a may be quickly and easily mounted on a vertical surface as required and provide an inexpensive yet practical mounting assembly for storing skis in a vertical position. Bracket assemblies may be located at a skiing site for storing the skis after skiing in the vertical position, or may be mounted in a storage area when the skis are to be stored for an extended period of time. The skis may be mounted with the butt ends resting on the floor or ground, or elevated on the shelf portions as illustrated in FIG. 6.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright position, comprising at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member, an end member joined to said front member at an end thereof and extending rearwardly at right angles thereto, the rearmost portion of said end member being attachable to a vertical surface for mounting the bracket thereon, an intermediate divider element formed as an integral part of said front member and cut-out therefrom, said cut-out divider element being bent at right angles to said front member and extending rearwardly thereto to define a notch in said front member, said divider element cooperating with said front member and said end member to define separate, adjacent spaces in each of which a ski is receivable for storing in the substantially upright position thereof, at least one additional bracket mounted on said vertical surface in spaced vertical relation with respect to the first named bracket and cooperating therewith to store the skis in the substantially upright position and, a forwardly projecting shelf joined to the front member of at least the lowermost positioned of the brackets and extending substantially the full length of the front member of said lowermost bracket, said shelf receiving the butt end of said skis thereon for storing said skis in an elevated upright position. I

2. A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially/upright position, comprising at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member, an end member joined to said front member at an end thereof and extending rearwardly at right angles thereto, the rearmost portion of said end member being attachable to a vertical surface for mounting the bracket thereon, an intermediate divider element formed as an integral part of said front member and cut-out therefrom, said cut-out divider element being bent at right angles to said front member and extending rearwardly thereto to define a notch in said front member, said divider element cooperating with said front member and said end member to define separate, adjacent spaces in each of which a ski is receivable for storing in the substantially upright position thereof, a second end member joined to said front member at the end thereof opposite to that to which said first named end member is joined, said second end member extending at right angles to said front member and in parallel relation to said first named end member and said divider element and cooperating with said front member and divider element to define one of said spaces, a second bracket joined to said first named bracket for mounting at least two additional skis in an upright position, said second bracket including a front member located in coplanar and abutting end-to-end relation with respect to the front member of said first named bracket, an end member joined to the front member of said second bracket in parallel relation to the end members of said first named bracket, a divider element joined to the front member of said second bracket at right angles thereto and spaced from the end member thereof to define spaces for receiving skis therein, and means for interconnecting the abutting front members of said brackets.

3. A ski rack as claimed in claim 2, additional brackets mounted on said vertical surface in spaced vertical relation with respect to the first named and second brackets, one of said additional brackets being spaced below and in vertical alignment with respect to said first named bracket and another of said additional brackets being spaced below and in vertical alignment with respect to said second bracket, said additional brackets cooperating with said first named and second brackets to store the skis in the substantially upright position. v r

4. A ski rack as claimed in claim 2, forwardly projecting shelf joined to the front member of each of the additional brackets that are spaced below said first named and second brackets, said 'shelves receiving the butt ends of said skis thereon for storing said skis in an elevated upright position. 

1. A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright position, comprising at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member, an end member joined to said front member at an end thereof and extending rearwardly at right angles thereto, the rearmost portion of said end member being attachable to a vertical surface for mounting the bracket thereon, an intermediate divider element formed as an integral part of said front member and cut-out therefrom, said cut-out divider element being bent at right angles to said front member and extending rearwardly thereto to define a notch in said front member, said divider element cooperating with said front member and said end member to define separate, adjacent spaces in each of which a ski is receivable for storing in the substantially upright position thereof, at least one additional bracket mounted on said vertical surface in spaced vertical relation with respect to the first named bracket and cooperating therewith to store the skis in the substantially upright position and, a forwardly projecting shelf joined to the front member of at least the lowermost positioned of the brackets and extending substantially the full length of the front member of said lowermost bracket, said shelf receiving the butt end of said skis thereon for storing said skis in an elevated upright position.
 2. A ski rack for storing skis in a substantially upright position, comprising at least one bracket that is formed in a unitary construction and that includes an elongated front member, an end member joined to said front member at an end thereof and extending rearwardly at right angles thereto, the rearmost portion of said end member being attachable to a vertical surface for mounting the bracket thereon, an intermediate divider element formed as an integral part of said front member and cut-out therefrom, said cut-out divider element being bent at right angles to said front member and extending rearwardly thereto to define a notch in said front member, said divider element cooperating with said front member and said end member to define separate, adjacent spaces in each of which a ski is receivable for storing in the substantially upright position thereof, a second end member joined to said front member at the end thereof opposite to that to which said first named end member is joined, said second end member extending at right angles to said front member and in parallel relation to said first named end member and said divider element and cooperating with said front member and divider element to define one of said spaces, a second bracket joined to said first named bracket for mounting at least two additional skis in an upright position, said second bracket including a front member located in coplanar and abutting end-to-end relation with respect to the front member of said first named bracket, an end member joined to the front member of said second bracket in parallel relation to the end members of said first named bracket, a divider element joined to the front member of said second bracket at right angles thereto and spaced from the end member thereof to define spaces for receiving skis therein, and means for interconnecting the abutting front members of said brackets.
 3. A ski rack as claimed in claim 2, additional brackets mounted on said vertical surface in spaced vertical relation with respect to the first named and second brackets, one of said additional brackets being spaced below and in vertical alignment with respect to said first named bracket aNd another of said additional brackets being spaced below and in vertical alignment with respect to said second bracket, said additional brackets cooperating with said first named and second brackets to store the skis in the substantially upright position.
 4. A ski rack as claimed in claim 2, forwardly projecting shelf joined to the front member of each of the additional brackets that are spaced below said first named and second brackets, said shelves receiving the butt ends of said skis thereon for storing said skis in an elevated upright position. 